Rodents are small. The repair bills they can leave behind? Definitely not small.
Rats, mice, and squirrels can do a surprising amount of damage once they get inside a Georgia home. They chew. They nest. They contaminate things. They squeeze into places where absolutely no one invited them, and because much of that activity happens inside attics, crawl spaces, walls, and other areas you do not see every day, the damage may be well underway before you realize you have roommates.
So, let's talk about seven ways rats, squirrels, and mice can damage your home, how to recognize the signs, and most importantly, how to keep them from coming back.
1. They Can Chew Electrical Wiring
This is one of the biggest (and potentially most dangerous) reasons rodent activity inside a home should never be ignored.
Rodent teeth grow continuously, which means rats, mice, and squirrels gnaw regularly to wear them down. Unfortunately, your home's electrical wiring is fair game. Chewing can strip away the protective coating surrounding wires, potentially creating shorts, electrical failures, or a fire hazard.
If you discover damaged wiring after rodent activity, have it evaluated by a qualified electrician after the animals have been removed. Getting rid of the mouse but leaving the chewed wire behind only solves half the problem.
2. They Can Destroy Attic Insulation
An attic full of insulation looks a lot like nesting material when you're a squirrel or mouse. Rodents may tunnel through insulation, flatten it, shred it, or move it around while creating nests. Urine and droppings can also contaminate insulation and make removal necessary.
Once insulation has been significantly disturbed or contaminated, it may no longer perform as intended. That means the tiny animal keeping itself cozy upstairs may eventually make it more difficult to keep your house comfortable.
3. They Can Damage Your Roofline, Soffits, and Fascia
Squirrels are especially talented at turning a small weak spot into a much larger entrance.
Damaged soffits, loose fascia, construction gaps, vents, and deteriorating wood can all provide access to an attic. Once squirrels discover a protected space on the other side, they may gnaw around an opening to make it easier to enter.
UGA Cooperative Extension recommends inspecting roofs, eaves, soffits, vents, doors, windows, and other exterior areas where wildlife can enter a building.
This is why patching only the one hole you saw may not solve the problem. Rodents are remarkably good at finding a Plan B.
4. They Can Damage or Contaminate HVAC Areas
Rodents sometimes make their way into ductwork, utility areas, or spaces surrounding HVAC equipment.
In addition to damaging nearby materials, urine, droppings, nesting debris, and other contamination can create another cleanup issue. UGA notes that rodent activity inside HVAC ductwork can be a reason professional duct cleaning is warranted.
The CDC also recommends professional assistance when rodents have accessed heating and cooling ventilation systems, rather than treating it like a standard DIY cleanup.
Translation: if mice have turned your ductwork into a subway system, this is probably not the moment to improvise.
5. They Can Contaminate Food and Stored Items
Mice and rats do not respect pantry boundaries. They can gnaw through food packaging, contaminating food, cabinets, shelving, pet food, and storage areas with urine and droppings.
The EPA lists chewed food packaging, droppings, nesting material, holes, and stale odors among the common signs of a rodent infestation and recommends removing accessible food, water, and nesting opportunities as part of long-term control. You can review the EPA's rodent-prevention guidance here.
Rodents may also shred:
- Cardboard boxes
- Paper and books
- Fabric
- Stored clothing
- Pet bedding
- Holiday decorations
- Other soft materials they can use for nests
Apparently, your attic storage bins were also listed on Airbnb.
6. They Can Chew Plastic Lines and Other Materials
Rodent gnawing is not limited to wood and electrical wires. Mice and rats may chew plastic, rubber, soft building materials, and other accessible items. Mice may even chew plastic irrigation tubing while seeking moisture. Depending on where the damage occurs, that can mean leaks, malfunctioning equipment, or another repair you were not planning to make this weekend.
If you discover gnaw marks near plumbing, utility lines, irrigation components, or mechanical equipment, inspect the entire area rather than assuming the damage ends where you can see it.
7. They Can Contaminate Attics, Crawl Spaces, and Wall Voids
Sometimes, the biggest mess rodents make isn't from chewing. It's everything they leave behind.
Rodent-infested areas can accumulate urine, droppings, food debris, dead animals, and nesting material. Rodents can also carry pathogens and parasites, which is why cleanup needs to be handled carefully.
One important update to the old grab-the-vacuum approach: do not vacuum or sweep dry rodent droppings. According to the CDC's current rodent cleanup recommendations, dry sweeping or vacuuming can send contaminated particles into the air. Instead, droppings and urine should be thoroughly wetted with an appropriate disinfectant before being wiped up while wearing protective gloves. Heavy infestations require additional precautions.
So please resist the urge to enter the attic armed with a Shop-Vac and optimism.
Is It a Rat, Mouse, or Squirrel?
You may hear your visitor long before you actually see them. A few clues can help narrow things down:
Gray squirrels are active during the day, so scratching or running noises in an attic during daylight hours may point toward squirrels.
Rats and mice are generally most active at night. Roof rats are strong climbers and often use elevated areas, while Norway rats tend to stay closer to the ground and may burrow.
UGA notes that the time of day you hear attic activity can help identify nuisance wildlife: daytime noise may indicate gray squirrels, while nighttime activity could be mice, flying squirrels, bats, or other nocturnal wildlife.
How to Keep Rats, Mice, and Squirrels Out
The best rodent-control strategy doesn't start with simply putting out a trap. It starts with exclusion.
Mice can fit through an opening approximately 1/4 inch wide about the width of a pencil. The CDC recommends inspecting both the interior and exterior of your home, particularly around pipes, utility lines, vents, doors, windows, foundations, attics, crawl spaces, eaves, gables, and soffits.
To make your home less rodent-friendly:
- Seal gaps and holes with durable, rodent-resistant materials.
- Repair damaged soffits, fascia, vents, screens, and weatherstripping.
- Keep food and pet food in tightly sealed containers.
- Use garbage cans with secure lids.
- Remove clutter and potential nesting material.
- Keep vegetation and debris around the home managed.
- Inspect attics, crawl spaces, garages, and rooflines periodically.
- Reduce outdoor food sources that attract rats, mice, and squirrels.
The EPA's Integrated Pest Management approach focuses on taking away the three things pests need most: food, water, and shelter. Simple concept that plays on the fact that rodents are annoyingly committed to finding all three.
What Is the Best Way to Remove Rodents?
Removal and exclusion need to work together. For rats and mice, the CDC currently recommends traditional snap traps as the preferred trapping method around the home and advises against glue traps and live traps. Rodenticide products may be appropriate for persistent rat or mouse infestations, but should be EPA-registered, used according to label directions, and kept inaccessible to children and pets.
Squirrels require a different approach. Before sealing an active squirrel opening, you need to know whether animals, especially dependent young, are still inside. Depending on the situation, professional wildlife removal may involve trapping or the proper installation of exclusion devices before the home is permanently sealed.
Georgia DNR also emphasizes reducing food, water, and shelter attractants and using exclusion to prevent recurring wildlife conflicts. Read Georgia DNR's wildlife-conflict guidance here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rodent Damage
How small a hole can a mouse fit through?
A mouse can squeeze through an opening approximately 1/4 inch wide, about the width of a pencil. That is why even very small gaps around pipes, vents, doors, siding, and utility lines need attention.
Can rats, mice, and squirrels cause house fires?
They can damage electrical wiring by chewing through its protective insulation. Exposed or damaged wiring can pose electrical and fire hazards and should be evaluated by an electrician.
Should I vacuum mouse or rat droppings?
No. The CDC recommends against sweeping or vacuuming dry rodent droppings, urine, or nesting material. They should first be thoroughly wetted with disinfectant and cleaned according to current CDC guidance.
Does sealing holes get rid of rodents?
Sealing entry points is essential, but rodents already inside the structure must still be removed. With squirrels in particular, sealing an active entry point without checking for young can create an even bigger problem.
What are the signs of a rodent infestation?
Common signs include droppings, scratching or scampering noises, gnaw marks, damaged food packaging, nesting material, disturbed insulation, odors, and visible entry holes.
Is trapping enough to solve a rat or mouse problem?
Usually not by itself. Trapping removes rodents already inside, but exclusion helps prevent new animals from using the same openings. Long-term control also means reducing accessible food, water, and shelter.
When should I call a professional?
Call for professional help when you have recurring rodent activity, animals inside walls or ductwork, contaminated insulation, difficult-to-reach entry points, young squirrels that may be present, or a problem that keeps recurring after DIY efforts.
Fix the Damage and the Reason It Happened
Catching a mouse is helpful. Figuring out how the mouse got inside in the first place is even better.
At BREDA, our approach to rat, mouse, squirrel, and wildlife control goes beyond removing the animal. We inspect the structure for potential entry points, address the wildlife already inside, complete exclusion work where needed, and clean and sanitize affected areas.
The goal is not to keep catching the same problem over and over again; it's to close the door.
If you're tired of wondering what the pests in or around your home are doing and just want them gone, don't hesitate to give us a call. The BREDA Guarantee promises to protect your home and keep it protected—no matter the circumstances. Schedule an inspection online or give us a call at 770-466-6700.
